Mounting of plank on swing hangers for railway trucks



1953 w. VAN DER sLuYs 2,

MOUNTING'OF FLANK ON SWING HANGERS FOR RAILWAY TRUCKS 2 smzws-sm'r 1 Filed Jan. 23, 194B INVENTOR. \A z'ZZz am Van Der Slugs.

7 l I a 5 2 1953 w. VAN DER SLU MOUNTING OF PLANK 0N SWING HANGERS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Jan. 23, 1948 INVENTOR. )rzfier SZ l Z/J BY Patented Jan. 13, 1953 MOUNTING F PLAN K ON SWING HANGERS FOR RAILWAY TRUCKS William Van Der Sluys, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application January 23, 1948, Serial No. 4,007

This invention relates to the provision of means in a railway-car truck for controlling unsquaring of the truck. More specifically, the invention relates to improvements in a truck in which a plank and swing hangers are associated with one another so as to contribute to resisting unsquarin'g.

Van Der Sluys application, Serial No. 567,573, now U. S. Patent No. 2,483,858, dated October 4, 1949, and Janeway application, Serial No. 567, 603, now U. S. Patent No. 2,584,880, dated February 5, 1952, both filed December 11, 1944, disclose and claim railway trucks in which unsquaring of side members is controlled through a plank, swing hanger carrying the plank, and means mounting the swing hangers in the side members.

The present application relates to improvements over the construction of the above applications involving a novel form of swing hanger and a novel association of swing hangers with a plank for controlling unsquaring.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved swing hanger for a railway truck that will cooperate with a plank in contributing to controlling unsquaring of the truck.

A further object is to provide an improved arrangement for mounting a plank on swing hangers which will contribute to controlling unsquaring of the truck.

A further object is to provide an improved type of load supporting plank that is adapted to provide for side frame equalizing action while resisting side frame unsquaring.

Other objects will appear from the disclosure.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side View of a railway truck, with parts broken away, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

' Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of a portion of the truck of Fig. l with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a detail view partially in section showing the manner in which a plank is mounted on a swing hanger, according to the present invenmm Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-6 of Fig. 2 and including both ends of the plank; and

Fig. 7 shows a modified arrangement of plank and swing hanger base.

19 Claims. (Cl. 105-208) The reference character It designates a side member of a railroad truck. The term side member is intended to be generic both to a side frame and to an equalizer member. The side member H! has at each end a bearing portion H engaging a journal box l2 associated with an axle, not shown, upon which a wheel [3 is mounted. The bearing portion ll of the side member is so arranged with respect to the journal box I2 that pressure is applied between the two at a line designated I4, and any tilting of the side member ID will take place at this region. The side member ID has an upper compression part 15, a lower tension part It, and two columns ll extending between the compression and tension parts. Each column [1 comprises opposed side walls [8 and 19, an inner end wall 28, and opposed flanges 2| on the side walls l8 and [9 extending toward one another and defining an opening at the outer end of the column. The inner end wall 20 of each column I! is formed with spaced portions 22 and 23 in which are provided generally elliptical openings 24 and 25 having fiat converging sides toward the bottom.- The openings 24 and 25 receive end portions 26 and 21 of a mounting pin 28. End portions 23 and 21 of the mounting pin 28 have fiat converging regions engaging the flat sided converging regions of the column openings 24 and 25 so that the mounting pin 28 is non-rotatably lodged in the side frame column I1. The mounting pin 28 has a central portion 29 provided with a spherical upper surface engaging a phericalupper surface in an opening 30 formed in a leg 3i of a swing hanger 32. The swing hanger 32 has another leg 3| which is similarly supported on a mounting pin 28 carried in the other column [1.

The swing hanger 32 has a base portion 33, which is at least partially contained in the lower portion 16 of the side member I0, which is shown to be U-shaped in cross section in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 5, the swing-hanger base 33 has end portions, each provided with a relatively wide lower region 34 and a relatively narrow upper region 36, made arcuate in shape so as to fit in a groove 31 formed in a plank 38 in such a way that the swing hanger base 33 may rock with respect to the plank. Between the regions 34 and 36 of the swing hanger base 33 there are regions 33 reentrant or depressed so that regions 39 will not strike the sides of the plank groove 31 upon rocking of the swing-hanger base 39 arising upon lateral movement of the swing-hanger base with respect to the side member [0. A central region of the swing-hanger base 33 is indicated in Fig. 4

ing substantial unsquaring of the side members and constituting the only means for this purpose, the plank being free of any association with the side members tending to prevent unsquaring thereof except by way of the swing hanger and the mounting means for the swing-hanger legs on the side members, said plank further being of less width across its mid-length than across its end portions to provide a relatively low torsional rigidity in the plank to improve side frame equalizing action.

2. In a railway truck comprising a pair of spaced side members, swing hangers each having spaced legs and a connecting base, means pivotally mounting the legs of the swing hangers on the side members, a plank extending between the side members and engaging the spaced end portions of the swing-hanger bases and bein free of engagements with the mid portions of the swing-hanger bases, the plank, the swing hangers, and the means mounting the swing-hanger legs on the side members preventing substantial unsquaring of the side members and constituting the only means for this purpose, the plank being free of anyassociation with the side members tending to prevent unsquaring thereof except by way of the swing hangers and the mounting means for the swing-hanger legs on the side members, said plank further being of less width across its mid-length than across its end portions to provide a relatively low torsional rigidity in the plank to improve side frame equalizing action.

3. In a railway truck comprising a pair of spaced side members, swing hangers each havin spaced legs and a connecting base, means pivotally mounting the legs of the swing hangers on the side members so as to prevent movement of the mounted portions of the swing hangers in a direction transverse of the side members, a plank extending between the side members and having near its ends transverse grooves engaged by spaced end portions of the swin hanger bases and free of engagement with the central portions of the swing-hanger bases, the plank, the swing hangers, and the means mounting the swing-hanger legs on the side members preventing substantial unsquaring of the side members and constiuting the only means for this purpose, the plank being free of any association with the side members tending to prevent unsquaring thereof except by way of the swing hangers and the mounting means for the swing-hanger legs on the side members, elastic deformation of the swing hangers providing limited unsquaring of the side members, said plank further being of less width across its mid-length than across its end portions to provide a relatively low torsional rigidity in the plank to improve side frame equalizing action.

4. In a railway truck comprising a pair of spaced side members, a pair of swing hangers each having spaced legs and a connecting base, means pivotally mounting the legs of each of the swing hangers on one of the side members, a plank extending between the side members and having a pair of lateral projections on opposite sides of the plank near each end thereof and a transverse groove formed in each pair of the projections and in the portion of the plank between each pairof projections, the grooved portions engaging endportion of a swing-hangerbase while leaving a central portion of the base free of engagement with the plank, the plank, the

swing hangers, and the means mountingthe swing-hanger legs on the side member's preventing substantial unsquaring of the side members and constituting the only means for this purpose, the plank being free of any association with the side members tending to prevent unsquarin thereof except by way of the swing hangers and the mounting means for the swing-hanger legs on the side members, said plank further being of less width across its mid-length than across its end portions to provide a relatively low torsional rigidity in the plank to improve side frame equalizing action.

5. In a railway truck comprising a pair of spaced side members, swing hangers each having legs and a base, means pivotally mounting the legs of the swing hangers on the side members. a plank extending between the side members and having a pair of lateral extensions on opposite sides of the plank near each end thereof, each end of the plank being engaged by a swing-hanger base at each set of lateral extensions and at portions of the swing-hanger base therebetween except at a central region of the swing-hanger base, the plank, the swing hangers, and the means mountin the swing-hanger legs on the side members preventing substantial unsquaring of the side members and constituting the only means for this purpose, the plank being free of any association with the side members tending to prevent unsquaring thereof except by way of the swing hangers and the mounting means for the swinghanger legs on the side members, said plank further being of less width across its mid-length than across its end portions to provide a relatively low torsional rigidity in the plank to improve side frame equalizin action.

6. In a railway truck comprising a pair of spaced side members, swing hangers each having spaced legs and a base extending therebetween, means pivo-tally mounting the legs of the swing hangers on the side members so as to prevent movement of the mounted portions of the swine hangers in a direction transverse of the side members, a plank extending between the side members and having a pair of lateral extensions on opposite sides of the plank near each end thereof and a transverse groove formed in each pair of the extensions and in portions of the plank between each pair of extensions the grooved portions at each end of the plank engaging end portions of a swing-hanger base while leaving a central portion of the swing hanger base free of engagement therewith, the plank, the swing hangers, and the means mounting the swinghanger legs on the side members preventing substantial unsquaring of the side members and constituting the only means for this purpose, the

1 plank being free of any association with the side members tending to prevent unsquaring thereof except by way of the swing hangers and the mounting means for the swing-hanger legs on the side members, said plank further being of less width across its mid-length than across its end portions to provide a relatively low torsional rigidity in the plank to improve side frame equal- :lzing action.

'7. A railway truck comprising a pair of spaced side members, a plank having transverse grooves adjacent its ends and extending between the side side members, a pair of 'swinghangers each having legs and a, base, means pivotally' mounting the swing hangers in the side members by the ends of the legs of the swing hangers away from 7 the bases thereof, each swing-hanger base having .51

toward each end a shape having a relatively narspaced swing hangers so as to provide the only means connecting the side members and resisting unsquaring thereof, said plank member having longitudinally spaced apart, transversely extending formations at each end thereof adapted to be engaged with mating formations on the swing hangers to provide for relative pivotal movement therebetween while resisting relative sliding movement therebetween, said plank member being shaped to provide a relatively narrow central portion and relatively wide end portions so as to have a relatively low torsional rigidity to thereby provide a means for readily permitting side frame equalizing action, the shape of said plank member further being such that the thickness of the plank at the end portions is of such size that the plank provides a high resistance to transverse shear and bending mments resulting from forces applied to the plank adjacent the ends thereof whereby the plank member resists unsquaring of the side members and provides a relatively rigid support for vertical loads applied to the ends of the plank member.

16. In a railway truck comprising spaced side members and a swing hanger pivotally mounted in each of said side members for swinging movement transversely of the side members, a plank member extending between and mounted on the spaced swing hangers so as to provide the only means connecting the side members and resisting unsquaring thereof, said plank member having longitudinally spaced apart, transversely extending groove-like formations across the underside at each end thereof providing the only plank portion adapted to be engaged with mat ing formations on the swing hangers to provide for relative pivotal movement therebetween while resisting relative sliding movement therebetween, said plank member having relatively wide transversely extending end portions and a relatively narrow transversely extending medial portion so as to have a relatively low torsional rigidity to thereby provide a means for readily permitting side frame equalizing action, the shape of said plank member further being such that the thickness of the plank at the end portions is of sufficient size so that the plank provides a high resistance to transverse shear and bending moments resulting from forces applied to the plank adjacent the ends thereof whereby the plank member resists unsquaring of the side members and provides a relatively rigid support for vertical loads applied to the ends of the plank member.

17. An integrally formed spring plank adapted to be suspended between a pair of spaced swing hangers comprising an elongated member having a relatively narrow, transversely extending, centrally disposed, body portion and having relatively wide transversely extending end portions adapted to be pivotally mounted on the spaced swing hangers, said relatively narrow. centrally disposed, body portion permitting twist of the plank end portions about an axis extending longitudinally of the plank, said end portions each including a downwardly facing, concavely arched, bearing surface that extends transversely of the end portion and is adapted to pivotally receive a base portion of a swing hanger, the plank end portion bearing surfaces and the pivotally engaged base portions of the swing hangers each being formed such that the base portions of the swing hangers are each pivotally engaged along 10 opposite sides of the relatively wide plank end portions and free of engagement with the plank in the region intermediate the sides of the end portions.

18. An integrally formed spring plank adapted to be suspended between a pair of spaced, side frame mounted, swing hangers comprising a member having an elongated relatively narrow, transversely extending centrally disposed, body portion and having relatively wide transversely extending end portions adapted to be pivotally mounted on the spaced swing hangers, said relatively narrow, centrally disposed, body portion permitting twist of the plank end portions about an axis extending longitudinally of the plank, said end portions each including a downwardly facing, concavely arched, bearing surface that extends transversely of the end portion and is adapted to pivotally receive a portion of a swing hanger, the plank end portion bearing surfaces intermediate the opposite sides of the relatively wide end portions having portions thereof removed such that the swing hanger base portions are each pivotally engaged along opposite sides of the relatively wide plank end portions and free of engagement with the plank in the region intermediate the sides of the end portions.

19. An integrally formed spring plank adapted to be suspended between a pair of spaced, side frame mounted, oscillatable swing hangers comprising an elongated member having a relatively narrow, transversely extending centrally disposed, body portion and having relatively wide transversely extending end portions adapted to be pivotally mounted on the spaced swing hangers for movement about axes parallel to the hanger axes, said relatively narrow, centrally disposed, body portion permitting twist of the plank end portions about an axis extending longitudinally of the plank, said end portions each including a downwardly facing, concavely arched, bearing surface that extends transversely of the end portion and is adapted to pivotally receive a base portion of a swing hanger, the plank end portion bearing surfaces intermediate the opposite sides of the relatively wide end portions having portions thereof removed such that the base portions of the swing hangers are each pivotally engaged along opposite sides of the relatively wide end portions and free of engagement with the plank in the region intermediate the sides of the end portions, the end portions each including transversely extending side projections that extend the width of the swing hanger bearing surfaces of the plank member,

WILLIAM VAN DER SLUYS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 826,870 Otis July 24, 1906 897,912 Lowry Sept. 8, 1908 946,293 Vauclain Jan. 11, 1910 1,582,907 Dreibuss May 4, 1926 1,762,886 OBrien June 10, 1930 2,052,639 Martin Sept. 1, 1936 2,412,689 Leese Dec. 17, 1946 2,437,033 Leppla Mar. 2, 1948 2,483,858 Van Der Sluys Oct. 4, 1949 

